Just a quick little blog about one of our members Juliette, who can be seen every Saturday rain or shine flogging her wonderful hand crafted wooden jewellery in the Galway Market, she is normally right at the side entrance to St. Nicks church.

Juliette also has her own website selling online and you can find out more about her by visiting FretMajic.

Anyway good luck with the selling

What we need in Ireland are politicians who are properly trained and accredited before being allowed to stand for election,

Some of the criteria suggested for wannabe politicians:

• They pass a lie detector test every day for two weeks before nomination day.
• They have demonstrated management capabilities in private enterprise for at least three years by running a successful department or company - without State handouts.

I guess that very few of the present crop would meet the above criteria...

In the present uncertain climate it seems to me that everyone in power in this the country is involved in some sort of scam. They all appear corrupt, this is everyone from priests to pundits, businessmen to trade unionists, doctors to patients all have a deal hatching.

We all know this and for some reason just accept it.

I suppose it's part of living on a small island, I think there is to much talk and not enough doing, few traditions of excellence, few professional organizations of competence and no ethos of hard work. It seems that most see it as a place to rip each other off, not to build and all seem to be on their way to somewhere else.

Maybe a jaundiced view, but what do you think....

• Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
• George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
• Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
• Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
• Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

• Matt Damon in “Invictus”
• Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
• Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
• Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
• Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

• Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
• Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
• Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
• Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
• Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

• Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
• Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
• Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
• Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

• “Coraline” Henry Selick
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
• “The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
• “The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
• “Up” Pete Docter

• “Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
• “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
• “Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
• “Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
• “The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

• “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
• “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
• “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
• “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
• “The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

• “Bright Star” Janet Patterson
• “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
• “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
• “Nine” Colleen Atwood
• “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

• “Avatar” James Cameron
• “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
• “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
• “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

• “Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
• “The Cove” Nominees to be determined
• “Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
• “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
• “Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

• “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
• “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
• “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
• “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
• “Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

• “Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
• “District 9” Julian Clarke
• “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
• “Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

• “Ajami” Israel
• “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
• “The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
• “Un Prophète” France
• “The White Ribbon” Germany

• “Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
• “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
• “The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

• “Avatar” James Horner
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
• “The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
• “Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
• “Up” Michael Giacchino

• “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
• “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
• “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
• “Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
• “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

• “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
• “The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
• “District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
• “An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
• “The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
• “Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
• “A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
• “Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
• “Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

• “French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
• “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
• “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
• “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
• “A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

• “The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
• “Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
• “Kavi” Gregg Helvey
• “Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
• “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

• “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
• “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
• “Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
• “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
• “Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

• “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
• “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
• “Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
• “Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
• “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

• “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
• “District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
• “Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

• “District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
• “An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
• “In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• “Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

• “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
• “Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
• “The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
• “A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• “Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

1. Illiterate? Write today for free help.

2. Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once; you'll never go anywhere again.

3. 3-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.

4. Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.

5. Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.

6. Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.

7. Tired of cleaning yourself. Let me do it. (Ad for house cleaning service)

8. Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink. (Ad for a farm house)

9. We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand. (Ad for a Laundry service)

The Lie-Clock.

A man died and went to heaven.

As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks in front of him.

He asked, "What are all those clocks?"

St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone whoever lived onEarth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move."

The man noticed a clock a clock stuck on 12 o'clock. "Oh," said the man,"whose clock is that?"

"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved,indicating that she never told a lie."

He noticed another one at 2 minutes past 12. "Incredible," said the man."And whose clock is that one?" St. Peter responded,"That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling usthat Abe told only two lies in his entire life."

"Where's Brian Cowen's clock?" asked the man."Brian's clock is in Gods' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan.

I admit it .. I LIKE trivia, though it serves no purpose for me since I can never remember any to bring up in conversation. But still, it is fun, so I've created this list of amazing trivia that I found to be absolutely riveting.

1. Snails can sleep up to 3 years.

Not so amazing actually since I managed to sleep through 6 years of primary and grammar school.  And when you think about it, what do snails have to do all their lives?  Sure, they leave great slime trails and make excellent targets for salt shakers and little boys, but other than that there’s not much more to do but sleep after an exhausting run across a sidewalk.

2. American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class.

Until I read this, I was convinced that there was an olive missing from my salad, yet no one would believe me. Now I am vindicated! I am now searching for proof that the airlines have taken one peanut from each bag .. I'll keep you posted.

3. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

After reading this, I realized that I know of many people with the same problem! But that’s an article about politicians I'm working on. For me, it's usually that my eyes are bigger than my stomach...

4. Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. 

Well, I'd like to see anyone keep this up long enough to actually lose 150 calories.  Now that I think about it, I DON'T want to see...

5. Donald Duck comics were banned in Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

This is completely understandable.. I mean, who wants to look at a duck with no pants on?  Besides, I understand that it is the law for all birds to wear pants in the city limits of Finland.

6. If you pass gas consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.

I tried to prove or disprove this, but two things stopped me ... I couldn't stand to look at a bowl of chili after the third day, and my girlfriend threatened to leave me ... although it was kinda hard to tell what she was really saying with that gasmask on.

7. In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.

Now, this piece of trivia leaves ALOT to the imagination, which is probably a good thing. BUT, I would like to point out, you'd have to be pretty limber to get some on those hairs .. nuff said.

8. The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

I know this trivia fact isn't true 'cause I've gone drinking with my ants several times and I've watched them fall over in several different directions... usually they tend to fall on my uncles though.

9. The average human eats eight spiders in their lifetime at night.

I don't know about this fact ... I've seen several spiders at night and never once felt compelled to eat one. Though I hear that spider is tasty if barbequed correctly.

10. And now for our final fun trivia fact: 

Some lions mate over 50 times a day... No wonder the females do all the work.

Economic recession, when you consult the books, is actually pretty common. Economy like everything else in life is a cycle. There are ups and there are downs. After enjoying fruitful years in the past, this is Ireland's time under the wheel. Unfortunately, what is different from this year's economic recession is the fact that it is much worse than the recession times of previous years. This is perhaps brought on by companies that are not performing well and the rising rates of repossesion in the real estate industry.

But like everything else, dealing with economic recession is easier than it seems especially if you do have a steady income that you can rely on. The only secret to dealing with the economic recession is to save up. Here are some of the things that you can do to better deal with economic recession.

1. Don’t waste Although this should be done whether there is economic recession or not, learning to save whatever you can is a crucial part in surviving these hard times. And what is more, it is so easy to do. You only have to remember to only use and buy things that you feel you can use. You can start with telling your kids to only put food that they can eat on their plates. If they finish them off, then they can get a second helping. You should also tell them that they should clean their plates all the time because food is expensive. This is a great thing to teach your children as this will allow them to learn how to live during tight times.

2. Plan and organize your life Planning can save you a lot of money, energy and petrol. In fact when you organize your schedule, you will see how you are less stressed out about things. Your activities and errands will flow more smoothly and things will be easier to do. For instance, when buying food it is good to have a list of items that you will be buying. This list of course will depend upon the meal schedule that you have already prepared for the family. That way, you already know how much you will have to purchase. No wastage. No leftovers. This saves time and money.

Another area that planning can have a benefit in is in saving petrol or diesel. When you have mapped out your activities for the day, you can plan where to go first and then the next. This way, you don't have to go back to the same way you traveled or go on a separate trip just because you forgot to take the clothes to the cleaners or you forgot to go to the grocery store.

3. Take advantage of discounts Because there isn't much people buying stuff, a lot of stores are constantly devising ways to get customers in. Take advantage of special promos and discounts.

4. Save money During an economic recession, you won't have any idea what will happen. The best thing you can do is to prepare for any eventualities and hope that you will not suddenly lose your job or suffer from the effects of the recession. To be sure, it is good to save money in the bank. Cut back on expenses that are not important.

That way, you can save enough for the future so that you will have something to use just in case.

5. Recycle stuff

It's amazing how much junk we accumalate in life, one way to get rid of it all is to recycle the things you don't want. Try out Kotalk's classifieds join the carboot group, if you have a service then try out the listings section, in short try and think outside the box.

Have a good look at the different Kotalk sections as there is a lot going on and many people trying to help each other out, if you haven't joined then why become a member and try us out - it's free and members here are a friendly bunch. Hope to see you on the inside

Well the end of another school year! Kids will be off for 9 weeks arrrggggg! We have swimming lined up and cycling to keep them occupied also day trips with overnight camping so will have a full summer, just hope the weather is good this, please some sun. I have been doing an aboriginal sun dance daily seems to work sometimes but it's so fickle...

My daughters last year in primary, into the 6th class she goes - where does time go, seems only yesterday she came into the world, either that or I've gotten so old I can't remember hehe

Oh well we are off to Achille in about 12 days can't wait, no computers, no Internet access, what will I do... fishing, swimming, pony trekking, walking and cycling for 14 days can't wait.

More later

CIGARETTE: A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!

MARRIAGE: It's an agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master

LECTURE: An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of students without passing through the minds of either

CONFERENCE: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present

COMPROMISE: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece

TEARS: The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine water-power!

DICTIONARY: A place where divorce comes before marriage

CONFERENCE ROOM: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on

ECSTASY: A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before

CLASSIC: A book which people praise, but never read

SMILE: A curve that can set a lot of things straight!

OFFICE: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life

YAWN: The only time when some married men ever get to open their mouth

ETC: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do

COMMITTEE: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together

EXPERIENCE: The name men give to their mistakes

ATOM BOMB: An invention to bring an end to all inventions

PHILOSOPHER: A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead

DIPLOMAT: A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip

OPPORTUNIST: A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river

OPTIMIST: A person who while falling from EIFFEL TOWER says in midway "SEE I AM NOT INJURED YET!"

PESSIMIST: A person who says that O is the last letter in ZERO, Instead of the first letter in OPPORTUNITY

MISER: A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!

FATHER: A banker provided by nature

CRIMINAL: A guy no different from the other, unless he gets caught

BOSS: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early

POLITICIAN: One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence Later

DOCTOR: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by his bills!

There was a time when a person who wanted to find work had to buy newspaper and look through the classified ads section.  The advent of the internet has changed that by creating opportunities for people to work either in a different state or in another country.

It has made the world a smaller place rendering it accessible for anyone with a computer to search for a job and apply to it. There are many sites that offer such services. All the person has to do is open an account, fill up the necessary fields then submit your resume. These sites usually ask for pertinent information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number and social security number (PRSI).

Additional information that will be requested is educational background. Employment history is also another thing that has to be mentioned which includes the job description and highlights that one has experienced during that person’s career. 

A section in the account will also ask the preferred industry of work, if the person is willing to do field work or open to relocation and the expected salary should one be accepted for the job.

With all the information provided, these sites will then match your qualifications with the jobs available.  This service is free and matches can be seen when the person logs on the account or gets a notice via email.

Some sites offer a service with a fee that will place the resume over other applicants giving that person more priority but even that is a not a guarantee that one will get the job.

Online job hunting is not just for professionals. It caters to anyone who wants to work either full time, part time or on a per project basis.  Applying online is not only done through job sites. You can also check the websites of companies that usually have a section on careers to see what openings are available. You simply have to go through the process of giving certain information and uploading your resume.

There are many jobs available in the market. The internet has made it easier for companies to make people aware that there are vacancies available. It has also made it convenient for applicants to apply online instead of walking to an office and dropping of a resume. With everything that is just a mouse click away, all it takes is a little effort on one’s part to sit down in front of a computer and looking for a job.

Advertising for free seems like an impossible thing when heard. But there are several ways by which the cost of advertisement can be conserved, with the help of some imagination and creativity.

A business wanting to advertise, can write articles related to their field of expertise that can be submitted to media and publications having interest in that particular field. The advertising article can have information about the company and dealership opportunity. Due to the rise in Internet users and websites, new websites have sprung up which offer free services. Articles can be written for these websites and they can be broadcasted for free, which will be viewed by hundreds of people everyday.

Once the business has gained some recognition, within no time it will gain popularity also among the crowds. This popularity can lead to them being invited on radio and television talk shows and even to interviews. Such kind of opportunities shouldn’t be missed as they provide a chance for free promotion. If it is taking a long time to get a break, the producer can be addressed with a letter that can be followed up by a telephone call or in-person visit. During the visit, the nature of expertise can be discussed about the business, which will be of interest to the viewers of the particular channel. Once a businessperson gains the status of being public-friendly, more offers start pouring in.

Free bulletin board located in the neighborhood, like in grocery stores, libraries, and salons, are another good idea. Advertising circulars can be posted on such boards for free. Circulars for mass distribution can be handed out at the mall, shopping center, bus stops, particularly on weekends when there is a big rush. Students can be hired on part time basis for this purpose.

Promotional advertisement can be printed on the envelopes used by the business firms. Both the sender and the receiver can view this advertisement.  Promotional offers can be sent to customers by postcards, which should be utilized to its full, leaving only place left for writing the address.

Some of the new mail order publications offer free first time and seasonal deductions for advertisers. Other publications offer pay per inquiry space. Inquiries can be made about stand-by space, which means that the publication holds the submission of advertisement until the space is not sold and in that case, thirty three percent saving can be achieved. Usually local newspapers provide these kinds of offers.

If the business is involved in ad sheet or catalog publishing, other publishers can be contacted for the purpose of bartering an advertising exchange. They can place advertisement in their publication, in return for placing their advertisement in the business’s publication.

Free offers can be provided to the customer. This can be done by emailing or printing newsletter about information regarding the area of interest of the targeted customers and can be made popular by using tag lines. Attach a free coupon with it, which the customers can use it for shopping, if a criterion is met like minimum purchase of $ 50. By this the response will be huge and most of them will purchase something or the other to avail the free offer. The basic ingredient for advertising for free is imagination and research. Opportunities should be searched and a strong working force should be applied to increase the sales. 

I love to spend hours looking at car boot sales for different items. Different vendors set up their products in a central location so that consumers can spend their time walking around and see the new and used items available for sale. You never know what you will come across at a car boot sale. There are plenty of new and used items as well as home made crafts and clothing to choose from.

To help make your day at the car boot sale the best it can be plan for the day. Most car boot sales are outdoors so you may want some sunscreen and a hat. Others are inside so make sure you find out ahead of time. You don’t want to spend the day carrying around the items you purchased so make sure you take along a bag or a cart. There are some very inexpensive carts that fold up and fit into the trunk of your car.

Make sure you wear good walking shoes too so you won’t have to end your daily early due to tired feet. A good tip to help if you do get tired walking is to walk to the very end of the vendors and work your way forward. This way you will have the heaviest load from items you have purchased when you are nearest your vehicle. Keep in mind that most people start at the entrance of the car boot sale so if you start at the back you will be able to see many items before too many other people do.

Most car boot sales are offered on the weekends but some of them do take place on weekdays as well. The number of other people looking around is generally lower during the week but then so is the number of vendors. It is really a toss up about when is the best time of day to make a deal at a car boot sale. It is perfectly acceptable to try to get the price lowered down from what the vendor is asking for it.

By going to a car boot sale first thing in the morning you are likely to be able to take advantage of the selection before everyone else has. This is the best solution if there are particular items you are interested in finding. Yet many people claim they have a harder time getting the seller to negotiate the prices when they purchase early in the morning.

By the end of the day though most vendors are very willing to lower the prices on the items they have remaining. They definitely don’t want to have to pack up any more stuff at the end of the day than they absolutely have to. If you have a particular item in mind and you can wait until the end of the day you will get a better price. You also run the risk of someone else snatching it up though if it is a one of a kind item.

There are different ways to negotiate the price of any given item. You can ask the vendor what the lowest price is that they will take for a given it. You can also offer to pay a certain price and see if they will take you up on the offer. If you want to offer €10 then have that money in your hand for them to see. Seeing the money will often entice them to take the money.

I have found it is always worth my time to look around though because I may find the vendor in the next aisle has the same item for €10 less. If I am going to go back to check on an item with a particular vendor I write down their location because by the end of the day it can be difficult to remember who is located where.

Another alternative is to vist Ireland Classified Ads and view the Freecycle section or maybe even post something on the site it's free to post and the ad stays up for 40 days...

Each day, in Ireland, thousands of Irish Internet users communicate with each other online. In addition to communicating with other Irish users, many are communicating with those on the other side of the world. This communication is due, largely in part, to online social networking websites.  If you are interested in joining the growing number of internet users who use social networking websites, you will have to find a network to join.

When it comes to finding social networking websites, you have a number of different options.  Perhaps, the easiest way to find a social networking website is by performing a standard internet search. You may want to search with the words social networking or social networking websites. Whichever search phrase you choose, there is a good chance that you will be presented with a long list of websites. 

You can also find and familiarize yourself with social networking websites by talking to those that you know. The internet, as well as social networks, has rapidly increased in popularity. That popularity means that there is a good chance that one of your relatives, friends, coworkers, or neighbours has used a specific social networking website in the past.  In fact, many may have even used more than one.  If you know someone who has, you will want to ask them their recommendations.  You will find that most social networking websites come highly rated, but there are some out there that may not even be worth your time.

In addition to speaking to those that you actually know, you can also seek recommendations from those that you do not personally know.  You can do this online.  Online, you should be able to find a number of websites that discuss social networking sites. 

Many of these websites have reviewed a collection of social networking sites.  In addition to reviews and other articles, you should also be able to speak with other internet users on online message boards.  Like speaking to one of your friends, many internet users would be more than willing to let you know what social networking websites are worth the time and which ones are not.

Although it is nice to receive recommendations from those that you know or other internet users, you are advised to make your own decision.  Whether or not a social networking website comes highly recommended, you are still encouraged to check it out first.  A large number of social networking websites are free to use; therefore, there are no risks associated with giving the site a try. Despite the fact that most online social networking sites are free to use, there are some that you must pay for.  A large number of these websites offer free trials.  Even if the trial period is only for a few days, you should easily be able to get a feel of the site’s environment and determine whether or not it is right for you.

In your search for a social networking website, whether you perform your own internet search or rely on recommendations from others, you should be able to find a number of popular websites. Those websites may include, but should not be limited to, Yahoo! 360, MySpace, Classmates, and Orkut. The good news about this is that if you are not satisfied with the social networking website you joined, you don’t have to worry; there are many more available for you to choose from.

I am by nature a "haggler"  - whats your best price and all that stuff.

So My Top Ten Haggling Tips

1. Haggling is legal. A price tag constitutes a maximum, not a minimum, price.
2. Shops benefit financially if you pay with cash rather than a credit card, so why shouldn't you share their good fortune?
3. Point out any faults in the goods as an aid to getting money off.
4. If the person serving doesn't have the authority to give you a discount, ask to see someone who does.
5. Shop around.
6. A multiple purchase could increase your chance of getting a discount.
7. It can be easier to haggle over the phone, especially when dealing with banks, hotels and travel agents.
8. Get your timing right. You stand a better chance of getting a discount at a fruit stall at the end of the day than the beginning.
9. Arm yourself with a phrase that is recognised within the industry in question. For example, at an antiques stall ask the proprietor: "What's your best price?"
10. Haggle over items with a high value. It's not worth an electrical dealer's while to haggle over batteries, but the reverse applies to the equipment they power.  

So go out and haggle the price down, don't be shy, you really can save wads of cash especially these days when all the sellers are bleating about how hard it is to get your money out your pockets, if you get good at haggling it will become like a sport.

Thouight I'd start a hints and tips section for those who are in finacial trouble, as the saying goes "been there done that"

When you’re in a financial bind, bankruptcy is not the only way out. There are many alternatives to bankruptcy if you are willing to put out the time and energy. It could save you much unnecessary hassle.

Bankruptcy is a difficult decision to make so it is best if there is another solution out there for you.

Begin by calling your creditors. Most are willing to work with you if you explain to them your situation. Tell them you are considering bankruptcy.

In many cases, creditors are willing to work out a different payment plan with you. Don’t hide from them either. Be straightforward and open about your financial situation.

Before filing bankruptcy, take a good long hard look at your finances. Get organized and begin writing out a budget. Start with your monthly income and deduct your monthly household expenses.

Understand how you are spending your money and seek out where you can make cutbacks. Perhaps buying groceries in bulk, or cutting back on phone services or cable services. Every little thing helps.

Next you will want to take a look at your credit cards. You may be able to take the balance from one with a higher interest to a lower interest one. Then get rid of those high interest credit cards all together.

Stay away from paying off credit cards with credit cards. Other things you can try are refinancing a car loan or a mortgage. Perhaps you have some family members or friends who are willing to pitch in to help pay off high rate debts and avoid bankruptcy.

Remember, this is a loan so when you are in a better situation, do make sure to pay back those who were kind enough to help you out.

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

'In honor of this holy season' Saint Peter said, 'You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.'

The man from Mayo fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. 'It represents a candle', he said.

'You may pass through the pearly gates' Saint Peter said. The man from Galway reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, 'They're bells.'

Saint Peter said 'You may pass through the pearly gates'.

The Dubliner started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, 'And just what do those symbolize?'

The Dub replied, 'These are Carols.'

And So The Christmas Season Begins....

I am not a political animal but recent events in Ireland are bordering on the insane.

How can a government of any persausion, make cuts in the health and school systems, these are at the very core of society.

A healthy society in general is a happy one and a happy society is a productive one.

The situation with schools and education is beyond belief, the young people are the investment we all make in the future of Ireland and yet the very people who were voted into power are now cutting and "saving" money by not investing in the future of either education or the health systems.

They are "Penny wise and pound foolish" (Sorry "Euro foolish") - The payment for all cuts in those two departments will be paid for in the future by failing health of the population and I reckon a failing education system.

I watched "Biffo" Taoiseach (Anagram: I eat chaos) Brian Cowen (Anagram: Wince on bar) at his best in the D�il blathering away trying to convince everyone that this is the way to go and that it cannot be helped. The man is a fool and hopefully he and his cronies will be ousted in the next election.

I really hope the people have learnt about "people power" from the old aged pensioners who got them to turn away from some of the budget proposals.

Any comments appreciated

More later...

An old cowboy sat down at the Starbucks and ordered a cup of coffee.

As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him.

She turned to the cowboy and asked, 'Are you a real cowboy?'

He replied, 'Well, I've spent my whole life breaking colts, working cows, going to rodeos, fixing fences, pulling calves, bailing hay, doctoring calves, cleaning my barn, fixing flats, working on tractors, and feeding my dogs, so I guess I am a cowboy.'

She said, 'I'm a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about women. When I shower, I think about women. When I watch TV, I think about women. I even think about women when I eat. It seems that everything makes me think of women.'

The two sat sipping in silence.

A little while later, a man sat down on the other side of the old cowboy and asked, 'Are you a real cowboy?'

He replied, 'I always thought I was, but I just found out that I'm a lesbian.'